School nixes Jesus lyrics from Silent Night during holiday concert

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School nixes Jesus lyrics from Silent Night during holiday concert

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — Imagine singing Silent Night without any reference to the virgin birth or Jesus himself.

Sound impossible? It’s not.

Sound ridiculous? Many would agree.

A Long Island, N.Y. school district caused outrage after fifth graders sang an edited version of the song during a holiday concert. The song omitted many of the famous lines the traditional song is known for. Gone were the lyrics “Christ the Savior is born” — or any other reference to God. The omitted lines weren’t replaced. Instead, the kids sang one simple, generic chorus

After the concert, parents weren’t happy. Many expressed their disprovable to school staff. In response to the backlash, the school posted a statement to its website.

It read, “The Board of Education sincerely apologizes to our community members who were offended by the change of lyrics to the song Silent Night and we share in your sentiment. This action was not approved by the Board of Education or district administration, nor is it their role to approve the songs chosen for our concerts. We are aware that no disrespect was intended on the part of any staff member. We will be taking steps to be certain this never happens again. As a Board of Education, we have taken offense to this action and again offer our sincerest apologies.”

17 comments

blowme@gmail.com

That is the dumbest thing I ever heard . If people are offended by the way we do things in this country then they need to get the F out of our country and go back to there own F’N country . Why should we have to walk on egg shells around these idiots . They wouldn’t do it for us if the tables were turned . F them all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tyler S

I think Christians need to stop acting immature about these kinds of situations. America is a melting pot, not any one religious country. If those were your kids up there singing a Muslim, Jewish, Scientologist song, are suggesting you would’nt be the least bit uncomfortable? Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. When’s the last time you celebrated your birthday for 3 months. Would you tell someone “happy birthday!”, 10 weeks before their big day? Stop being so intolerant, and grow up.

MKAhlsen

I remember my son’s (public school) programs including Christmas, Hanukkah and sometimes even a Kwanza song. I don’t recall any uproar about it. Personally I wouldn’t have minded if they had included Muslim music if it pertained to the season. They were songs about peace sung by children. The year the school switched to “winter” music instead of “holiday” music is when the parents got upset.

stupid! You sing the songs the way they are meant to be sung. They are a part of the tradition and as such should be included. If you don’t believe it, sing it as a traditional song and ignore what it means. As a kid, we sang Christmas and Hanukkah songs, and later, we sang songs from the world over. There is such a thing as being TOO politically correct. At some point, you just become dumb.

Tyler S

It’s a public school not a church. You still are allowed to celebrate Christmas in your home or place of worship, no rights have been stomped on by changing the lyrics of a religious song that is considered public domain.

DO PEOPLE NOT KNOW WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT?!?! Even people who don’t believe in God, St. Nicolas, and Jesus still celebrate Christmas and have the day off. If you are against God, Jesus and everything then you should treat it as a regular day, no presents, no tree, no day off. Just go to work like usual and come home to your miserable life and leave the rest of us alone to celebrate our Holidays the way they are meant to be.

Tyler S

People celebrate Christmas as a day to give gifts and spend time with their families, they couldn’t care less about Jesus. Same goes for Thanksgiving, we just tend to overlook the thousands of massacred Native American after the fact. So you’re saying only if I believe in Jesus, should get to have a day off of work to spend time with my family. Sounds like a shallow reason to follow the son of God.

Religious holiday celebrated by non religious people…? Really? I don’t celebrate Hanuka or Kwanza because they are different. You want to celebrate a Holiday based on Saints and the birth of Jesus but you don’t believe. How can that be possible?

When I think about where I was and how God rescued me and brought me through all of my pain and misery, I want to help as many people as I possibly can to have hope and believe what God can do for them. If you’ll trust God to write a beautiful story through your life, you’ll find purpose in your pain as God takes your mess and turns it into His message. My motive in telling my story is not for you to go out and buy my book or feel sorry for myself. I’m sharing my story because many, many people have been through similar struggles. God wants to share my story so you may be restored by God’s mercy and grace. I’m living proof. To learn more about The Little Girl Inside, go to my Facebook and click on the link…I have a dream to be a voice for all these innocent people.

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